Beach towel and garment



V. C. ALEXANDER BEACH TOWEL AND GARMENT May 13, 1947.

Filed July 22, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet l 3 mwniom VERA/A Cock ALEX/IA/DEP I (ltt owe May 13, 1947,

V. C. ALEXANDER BE'ACH TOWEL AND GARMENT Filed July 22, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 13, 1947. v. c. ALEXANDER 2,420,344

BEACH TOWEL AND GARMENT Filed July 22, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet a F 217 Wm (Missing? 5 'Ibl May 13, 1 v. c. ALEXANDER BEACH TOWEL AND GARMENT Filed July22, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 fhmmiw V VE'EA/A Cook ,4; 5m N052 v V; c. ALE XANDER BEACH TOWEL AND GARMENT May 13, 1947.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 22, 1946 May 13, 1947 v v. c. ALEXANDER BEACH TOWEL AND GARMENT 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 22, 1946 Jnv'entnn Vim/4 C 00/1 Anna/052 -May 13, 1947. v. c. ALEXANDER BEACH TOWEL AND GARMENT Filed July 22, 1.946 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Jmmntbm l sa/vn Cook ALEXANDER (ltiotneg Patented ay 13, 39457 ENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

ihis invention relates to a beach towel, which can be used for a variety of purposes, either as a lounging towel, or as a cape or wrap for beach wear, or as a wrap in a Turkish bath and the like, which can be rolled up and tied into the form of a handbag, and employed as a handbag when in rolled up position. By a slight modification of the same, it can also be used as a hospital garment, or examination garment for doctors offices and the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a combination beach towel, garment, handba which by forming into different shapes and draping around the body in different manners can be employed for a variety of purposes.

It is another object of this invention to provide a beach towel, wrap and the like having a pillow associated therewith and attached thereto, and having certain pockets associated therewith for the keeping of personal effects so that whether the article is used as a lounging towel on a beach, or as a beach covering for the shoulders and the waist portion of the body, or as a garment, it can still have means associated therewith for the retention of personal efiects regardless of the manner in which it is used.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending patent application for a Beach blanket towel, Serial No. 625,210, filed October 29, 1945.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the article and showing it lying flat;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the article turned back side up and showing it constricted at the top portions and ready to be rolled up;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the upper portion thereof doubled one time upon itself;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the article further rolled up, that is, lapped upon itself three times;

Figure 5 shows the last folding operation so that the article an be tied into the form of a handbag;

Figure 6 is a view of the article after the draw strings have been tied to ether to cause the article to have the appearance of and to serve as a handbag;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken along the line '|-'i in Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a view of the article being worn as a beach garment with one end tied around the neck and the other tied around the waistline;

Figure 9 is a view of the article wrapped around a model showing the use of the article as a bath garment, such as in emerging from a Turkish bath;

Figure 10 is a reverse view of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a modified form of the article showing slits therein to enable it to be used as a hospital garment;

Figure 12 is a view showing how the article shown in Figure 11 can be worn as a hospital examination garment;

Figure 13 is an isometric View in section taken along the line i3l3 in Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a view of the article in a modified. form omitting the bottom draw string and substituting tassels on the lower end of the article;:

Figure 15 isa view showing how the article:

would be worn on a model, as a beach covering;v

Figure 15 is an isometric view of a modified. form of the article, omitting the bottom draw string;

Figure 1'? is a view showing the article as it'- appears in Figure 16 doubled upon itself several. times in the process of being folded for carrying? purposes;

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 17, but showing the article completely folded;

Figur 19 is a reverse view of Figure 18;

Figure 20 is a view showing how the article shown in Figures 14 to 19 would appear when the draw string is tied to convert it into a type of handbag.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 16 indicates the sheet of material, such as terry cloth, which has loose hems II and I2 at its ends in which draw strings l3 and 14 are slidably mounted.- Near the top of the sheet of material N, which is preferably of terry cloth, there is secured by a line of stitches I5 a bag or pillow slip I6 open at One end and provided with closure means, such as a hookless fastener i7, and in which bag a pillow I8 is adapted to be inserted.

At each of the lower corners of the sheet of material I6, there are sewn thereto two rectangular pockets 2%] and 2|, which are open at their proximate ends, and are closed by suitable hookless fasteners 22 and 23.

This item can be spread on the beach and used as a lounging mat, or can be worn as a beach garment, such as shown in Figures 8 to 10 inclusive. When worn as a beach garment, it can have the upper end thereof passed around the neck of the wearer and the cord l4 formed into a bow knot and the lower end of the sheet ID can be passed around the waist of the wearer and the cord Hi can be formed into a suitable bow knot so that it will cover the back, shoulders, waist portion, hips, and portions of the legs of the wearer. Or, if desired, when entering or emerging from a Turkish bath or on other occasions, the article can be worn, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, by having the upper cord l4 tied around the neck of the wearer, and the sheet It] can be wrapped spirally around the body of the wearer, the first turn going into the armpits and covering the busts, and the second turn ending approximately at the knees of the wearer, so that the wearer can seize the lower cord l3 and pull it until the knot on one end engages the end of the hem portion I I and the knot being larger than the hem portion l I will prevent the knot from going, into the hem portion and the hand of the operator can seize the cord l3 and hold it so as to hold the lower end of the sheet I!) securely around the knees of the wearer.

Vfhen the article is not in use as a beach towel or garment, if it is desired to carry it in the form of a handbag and to stow articles within the folds of the sheet, and yet permit the pockets 2G and 2! to be available for the depositing of articles therein, the member [9 can be turned over from the position. shown in Figure l to the position shown in Figure 2 and the article can be folded several times upon itself, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 and then the cords I3 and M can be tied into suitable bow knots to provide a neatlooking handbag so that articles of personal effects can be inserted through the substantially circular opening 25 in the bag, and the pockets 20 and 2! will appear on the outer top side of the handbag, and be available for access for the depositing or removal therefrom of personal effects.

In wearing the article as a garment, such as a cape, bathrobe, beach robe, hospital garment and the like, it is, of course, understood that the pillow It will be on the outside hanging down onto the back of the person and disposed between the shoulders, It should be added also that in using the article as a beach lounging spread, the pillow case l6 can be thrown upwardly in Figure 1, if desired, so as to provide a pillow either in the position shown in Figure 1 or when thrown upwardly.

In Figures 11 and 12 a slightly modified form of the invention is shown, which is identical to the structure shown in Figure l with the exception that if desired, side hems 26 and 2'! can be provided having draw strings 28 and 29 with suitable knots on the ends thereof, and in addition the sheet H] is slitted. as at 30 and 3E, which slits are faced with overlapping facings or bindings 32 and 33 to cause them to overlap each other to normally close the slits 39 and 3!, when it is desired to-use the sheet if], as a beach towel or a lounging mat, but when desired to use it as a garment such as in hospitals or in a doctors oifice during a physical examination, the legs of the patient can be inserted through the slits 3i and SI and the upper cord M can be tied aroundthe neck of the wearer; while the lower end of the sheet is brought up 'to cover the abdomen of the patient, and cord l3 istied around the waist, and if desired, the side'cords 34 and 35 can be pulled to shorten the length of the side edges of the sheet to make it more snuglyfittingiand they .can be tied together in suitable quick detachable knots as desired. The other features shown in Figure 11 have already been described and like reference characters will apply.

In Figures 14 to 20 inclusive, a modified form of the invention is shown, in which the sheet H) has the upper end thereof of the same structure as previously described and like reference charactors will apply, but the lower end, instead of having a hem with a draw string, has a plurality of ornamental tassels 37 disposed therealong and instead of the rectangular pockets Zfland 2|, it has triangular pockets 38 and 39 open at one side and closed by suitable hookless fasteners 40 and ll. This type of the invention can be worn over the shoulders as shown in Figure 15, with the pillow at the top thereof disposed inside or outside the garment, as desired, preferably on the outside, with the draw string M tied in a bow knotaround the neck, and letting the other end swing down behind the legs of the wearer,

In Figure 16, it is shown how this structure can be laid fiat and folded and the pillow turned inwardly ready to be folded and partially folded in Figure 17 and completely folded in Figures 18 and 19,. and with the drawstring. drawn up and tied in'a suitable knot converting it into a handbagand having the pockets 38 and 39 disposed on the outside of the last layer so that it can be used as a handbag by inserting personal effects into the opening left by not fully closing the draw string, and also the pockets 38 and 39 are available for insertion and removal of personal effects.

It is'thus seen that I have provided an article of apparel, which can be'u sed as alounging mat, beach robe, beach towelyshoulder covering, body covering; medical inspection garment, handbag and the like, and thus having a great variety of uses, presents novel details, which makes it a highly desirable and yet inexpensive article of personal wear.

In" the drawings and specification, there has been'set-forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although-specific terms are employed; they are used-in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I clairni 1. A'beach towel comprising an elongated rectangular sheet of textile material having a hem at each end thereof and having a draw string slidably mounted in each hem and with the ends of the-drawstring extending a substantial distance from-eachedge of the sheet, each draw stringhaving a knot in the-ends thereof to prevent its being pulled through the hem, a bag having suitable closure-means in one end thereof and having one'side attached to the sheet at, the hem line: at one end thereof and being adapted to receive a pillow and the like, the other end of 3 the sheet having a pocket at each corner thereof and stitched thereto and having an open ing in one side 'thereof with closure means for closing the opening.

2. A beach towel comprising an elongated rectangular sheet of material havinga hem at each end thereof and having 'a draw string'slidably mounted in each hem and with the ends'of the draw string extending'a substantial distance from each 'edge of the-sheet ofmaterialyeach draw string-having a knot in the ends thereof to prevent its being pulled through the .hem,' 'a bag having a suitable closure meansjin onejendth'eiteof and having one side attached .toflthesheetof material at the hem line atone end thereof and being adapted to receive a pillow and the like, the other end of the sheet of material having a pocket at each corner thereof and stitched thereto, and having an opening in one side thereof with closure means for closing the opening, said sheet of material having, nearer one end thereof than the other, a pair of slits whereby the legs of a person can be inserted through the slits and the draw string in the end of the piece of material nearest the slits can be passed around the waist of the person and the draw string at the other end of the sheet of material can be passed around the neck of the wearer and knotted to provide a garment.

3. A beach towel comprising an elongated rectangular sheet of material having a hem at each end thereof and having a draw string slidably mounted in each hem and with the ends of the draw string extending a substantial distance from each edge of the sheet of material, each draw string having a knot in the ends thereof to prevent its being pulled through the hem, a bag having a suitable closure means in one end thereof and having one side attached to the sheet of material at the hem line at one end of the sheet and being adapted to receive a pillow and the like, the other end of the piece of material having a pocket at each corner thereof and stitched thereto, and having an opening in one side thereof with closure means for closing the opening, said sheet of material being long enough so that the draw string at one end can be passed around the neck of a person and knotted and the other end passed around the waist of the person and knotted to provide a cape coming approximately to the knees of the person and covering the shoulders, hips and back of the person.

4. A beach towel and garment comprising an elongated rectangular sheet of material having a loose hem at one end thereof and a draw string in said loose hem, a pillow casing having a closure in one end thereof and having one side edge secured to the end of the sheet of material adjacent the hem, the other end of the sheet of material having in each corner thereof, a pocket provided with a closure means whereby the of material at the end having the hem therein along with the pillow case can be collapsed to reduce its overall Width so the towel can be Worn as a cape or garment by passing the draw string around the neck of a person.

5. A beach towel and garment comprising an elongated rectangular sheet of material having loose hems on the two side edges thereof and on sheet the two end portions thereof and each loose hem being provided with a draw string having its ends extending a substantial distance from the end of the hem and having knots in the end portions thereof to prevent removal of the draw strings from the loose hems, a rectangular bag stitched to the sheet of material along one side thereof and adjacent the loose hem and having one end open and provided with closure means so that a pillow can be inserted into the bag, the other end of the sheet of material having at each corner thereof a bag stitched thereto and having one side open, the open side being provided with closure means, whereby personal effects can be disposed Within the bags, the sheet of material having a pair of elongated slots therein adjacent one end whereby the legs of a person can be inserted through the slots and the adjacent the slots can be passed around and knotted around the waist of a person and the other end of the piece of material can be disposed around the neck of the person and the draw string in the end hem thereof can be knotted around the neck of the wearer and the draw strings in the side hems can be tightened and knotted to provide a garment for hospital and doctor's offices and the like.

6. A beach towel comprising an elongated rectangular sheet of textile material having a hem at each end thereof and having a draw string slidably mounted in each hem, a bag having suitable closure means in one end thereof and having one of its side edges attached to the sheet at the hem line at one end of the sheet and being adapted to receive a pillow and the like, the other end of the sheet having a pocket at each corner thereof and stitched thereto, each pocket having an opening in one side thereof with closure means for closing the opening.

VERNA COOK ALEXANDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,222,563 Rosenberg Apr. 10, 1917 1,729,817 Bullard Oct. 1, 1929 2,024,044 Johnson Dec. 10, 1935 2,264,471 Glenn Dec. 2, 1941 1,724,443 Wheeler Aug. 13, 1929 1,839,003 Steinberg Dec. 29, 1931 2,299,996 Kremer Oct. 2'7, 1942 draw string at the end 

